Precast Concrete: A defense against natural disasters

A very less known fact about precast concrete is its resiliency. The building codes have stressed on resilient construction for disaster-prone areas. In this case, the world needs to know about the new generation of Precast Concrete homes. Such homes provide higher resilience value and are also less expensive compared to wood framed houses. But what exactly is resiliency?

Resiliency:

In the context of building structures, resiliency can be defined as the ability of a structure to withstand extreme internal and external changes. Following properties help in defining the resilience capacity of a structure:

• Longevity
• Sustainability
• Robustness
• Durability
• Reuse Adaptability
• Disaster resistance

What are the internal or external changes affecting a structure?

A structure, at any time, is prone to following natural or man-made calamities:

• Weather changes (hurricane, tornado, or flood)
• Geological changes (earthquake, tsunami or volcanic eruption)
• Man-made changes ( terrorism, war, or forest fire)

The ability to recover from these changes depends on a number of things. The first two categories can be handled by adopting few methods during construction. One such method is the use precast concrete. Precast concrete can be used to resist the damage caused due to flood, forest fire, tornado or hurricane. Let’s understand this an example:

Greensburg rebuilding with precast concrete:

A tornado hit the city of Greensburg, Kansas on 4th May 2007. It destroyed almost 90% of its homes and buildings. Fortunately, the lives were saved by early weather forecast and warning.

After this calamity, the community decided to act rigorously and provide resiliency to its infrastructure. Local leaders had group meetings a fruitful outcome of this was “Greensburg Greentown”. Several buildings were rebuilt with precast concrete. One of the best examples of this rebuilding is The Kiowa County Memorial Hospital. It has earned a LEED platinum certification.

Another example of rebuilding this city with precast concrete is The Twilight Theatre which was originally built long ago in 19’s. Many such public buildings were rebuilt using precast concrete to achieve the LEED Gold Certification.

Role of precast concrete in resiliency:

The above example indicates that precast concrete acts as a defense mechanism against natural disasters. It increases resilience capacity of a structure. It is a preferred choice when it comes to achieving sustainability. Precast concrete holds a strong record for ensuring the afore-mentioned attributes of resiliency: reliability, longevity, durability, robustness, durability, and recyclability.

These are the reasons communities in New Zealand, the United States and several other parts of the world are choosing precast concrete to protect their infrastructure, business, homes, and lives against calamities.

Our services in this field:

Silicon Engineering Consultants Limited is a New Zealand based company serving Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and several other parts of the country. We truly understand how calamities affect the infrastructure and lives causing a great damage. We also understand how the new generation has started to adopt the use of precast concrete in building construction for providing safety. Henceforth, we are offering our precast services to New Zealand and countries beyond it. Our preliminary services in the category include Precast Detailing Service and Precast Drafting. We have hired some of the best Precast Wall Panel Detailers to provide our client with a guaranteed safety in precast construction.

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6 Unconventional Structure Systems

To build extraordinary architectures, we require unconventional structure system. It must be first of its kind to join the list. Here we introduce one such list:

1. Tree or branching Structure: 

This structure type uses tree-like columns for providing support. The column rises from the ground like a tree trunk and then it branches near the top to extend over a bigger span.

Example of this type of structure is The Tote, Mumbai

2. Stack Box Structure:

The Stack Box Structure comes from the idea of stacked boxes. The boxes when stacked while maintaining the balance forms a standing structure. In the actual building, the boxes need extra support for improved stability. The boxes when introduced to horizontal load will fall. Thus, support is provided through concrete or steel structures in form of cantilevers or skeletal steel frames.

A live example of this is Habitat 67 – Québec, Canada

3. Shell Structure: 

A shell can be defined as a structure with a curved surface. The thickness of this type of structure is very less compared to its length and width. This shell can be used as a roof or an entire structure. This type of structure transfers the loads on to the ground through several points.

Example of this type is L’Oceanogràfic – Valencia, Spain

4. Folding Structure:

Folding Structure is a type of shell structure in which the shell is folded like origami. Folded plates cover the plane surfaces that require less reinforcement than the straight plates. The shell folding does the job of both slabs and beams to provide support to the structure.

Example of a folding structure is the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel-Colorado, USA.

5. Bubble Structure:

This is the type of structure idealizes a foam of equal-sized bubbles. It is a 3-dimensional structure with equal volume and minimum surface area.

A famous example of bubble structure is Beijing National Aquatics Center-Beijing, China. This aquatic center consists of a light steel frame structure giving a shape of air-filled bubbles made of ETFE( a transparent plastic material).

6. Tensile Structure:

A tensile structure is made up of elements in tension state instead of compression. A perfect example of the tensile structure is a tent. When all of its component, fabric, poles, and ropes are in perfect tension, the tent becomes upright. A tensile structure in building construction uses the same law but with some advanced components to carry large loads and environmental conditions.

Example of a tensile structure is the Millennium Dome or The O2 Arena-London, UK

Structural Engineering is a distinctive discipline of civil engineering. It requires a Structural Engineers to design, analyze, plan and research structural components and systems for a safe designing. The complexity of modern structures requires a great deal of creativity from an engineer to ensure its load-bearing capacity.

Service by US:

Silicon Engineering Consultants Limited based in New Zealand provides Structural Engineering New Zealand based services. We have an expert Structure Design Engineer New Zealand team to offer best services in this field. We also outsource our services to countries around the world. Our services never fail to receive satisfaction from the client side as we work with a prime vision of maintaining quality throughout the lifecycle of project.

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Top 5 FAQ’s on BIM

Here’s a list of frequently asked questions on BIM by those who aren’t very familiar with the concept. The answers followed by the questions will try to spread light on BIM. 

 

1.  What is BIM?
 

BIM stands for “Building Information Modeling”. Sometimes it is also known as “Building Information Model”. In simple words, BIM is the creation of a virtual model of any physical entity. It is used by designers to design a building, by construction team to model the construction and by building owner for facilities management. BIM helps in smooth functioning of the project lifecycle.

2. Who owns the BIM?

BIM Modeling must be shared with everyone involved in the project. To maximize the benefits of BIM, it must be owned by a building owner. Let’s consider an analogy in which BIM can be compared with a photography session. The client will be satisfied by receiving only the prints of the photographs but it would add value if they receive original photos. The original photos can be utilized by the client for future use.

Same is the case with BIM Modeling. Suppose, an engineer creates a BIM but does not share it with other team members. The designer will design the building but he will not be able to coordinate it. The construction team will not get the benefits of a digital model. The building owner will thus be left with boxes of paper to manage the facility of the building. To avoid this, the engineer must have shared BIM with the designer. By doing so, BIM can be shared with everyone down the line making most out of it.

3. Who can benefit more from BIM?

 

The answer to this question is simple. As BIM is used by everyone involved in the project, it is equally beneficial to all. The designers will not require retyping the data from 2D CAD model to Microsoft Excel. The construction team will not get informed about dozens of on-site clashes and hence pricing of the product can be done more efficiently. The building owner will be able to manage and alter the facilities of the building better than ever. Thus, we can say that BIM helps everyone and it is beneficial to all. 

4.  Is there a single BIM?

 

There might be a single BIM for every individual working on the project in near future. However, this is just an infancy. There might be a number of BIMs with interoperable data. If such is the case, each designer will have their own CAD and specification models. The data will come flowing in at every single milestone of the project like cost estimation, clash detection, and performance analysis. Finally, it will be handed over to the owner.

5. Is BIM affordable for small firms?
 

It is an easier investment for small firms to implement BIM as they are more fluid with their business decisions. They can modify their processes more easily. However, for larger firms with hundreds of professionals, it might be difficult to adopt new processes with ease. Still, there are hopes that BIM Implementation Services will not be talked about much as it is today. It will simply become an integral part of the construction industry and how the construction works.

BIM Services offered by us:

SiliconEngineering Consultants Limited is a New Zealand based firm specializing in CAD services. We are providing the latest in trend BIM Implementation Services and BIM Modelling. Our BIM Services New Zealand based have efficient BIM specialists that put in the best of their knowledge and consultancy in a construction project.

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Importance of Fire fighting System in High-rise Buildings

High-rise buildings contains a noteworthy populace of residents and the signature nature of this kind of shape; don't give simple surfacing in case of fire for those residents. The result of fire in an elevated structure can be disastrous. Safety against Fire is an imperative duty at office spaces as well as at homes. Fire safety can be guaranteed by having Fire Fighting Equipment and legitimate Fire Protection. The Importance of Firefighting Equipment is an essential one to guarantee most useful protection against Fire. 

The fruitful usage of Fire Protection System happens just when it is done on time. Moreover, the general population must know some fundamental data about the fire assurance for applying it appropriately. Fire Protection layout is the most important step in the construction of any new household or commercial project. Fire safety design is paramount to a building’s design and function, fire safety design features can help to evacuate a building in a safe manner to preserve life. Safer buildings will stand the test of time and shall not require expensive remedial works to meet future building regulations. Before submitting a design application to the Planning Authority, it is good practice to have your design proposal reviewed in relation to fire safety design. The investment in high quality architectural design ensuring fire safety in buildings is the best solution for new building projects in order to protect human life and financial investment.

The Fire Fighting layout drawing usually consists of three basic parts:-

• A large store of water in the tank, either underground or on top of the building. The storage of water tanks is important so as to be used immediately at the time of emergency.

• A specialized pumping system as it pumps in the water with extreme speed to put down as swiftly as it breaks.

•  A large network of pipes ending in either Sprinklers or Hydrants to make the process more easy and quick.

Some of the major Fire fighting equipment’s are Fire Extinguisher, Fire Alarm, Firefighting Blankets, Fire Sprinklers and Fire Hose. Among them, Fire Sprinklers is the most effective and beneficial technique for both commercial and residential purpose. Sprinkler systems are intended either to control or suppress the fire.

A sprinkler is a nozzle attached to a system of funnels and introduced just underneath the roof of a room. Each sprinkler has a little glass bulb with a fluid in it. This bulb regularly hinders the stream of water. In a fire, the fluid in the bulb will wind up noticeably hot. It will then extend, and smash the glass bulb, evacuating the deterrent and making the water splash from the sprinkler. A sprinkler will, for the most part, be initiated rapidly in a fire - potentially before the fire station has been informed of the fire - and along these lines is exceptionally viable at putting out a fire in the early stages, before it develops into an extreme fire. Consequently, a sprinkler framework is viewed as exceptionally productive at putting out flames previously they spread and end up plainly unmanageable. Sprinkler frameworks are generally introduced in high or substantial structures and high fire risk occupancies.

Silicon Engineering Consultants Limited, New Zealand, hold expertise in this domain, offering a wide assortment of Fire Fighting Layout Drawings, Fire Sprinkler CAD Drawings, Fire Coordination Shop Drawings, Fire Protection Drawings etc. We understand the essentials of healthy and perfect environment for living. We provide all sorts of CAD-based Services; we understand client’s need and prioritize the work accordingly. 

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